F v^ w io 



OF 

MOSES STOCKING, ESQ.. 

!l 

AND 

L. R. WARNER, ESQ., 

ON THE LANDS BELONGING TO THE 
/ 
I' 

BUELINGTON & MISSOURI RIVER RAILROAD 
COMPANY IN NEBRASKA. 

AN!) OTHER VALUABLE INFORMATIOiN. 




JANUARY 1, 1870, 
HBTiAID BOOS AND JOB OFFICB, PLATISMOUTIi, NEBRASKA. 



^Q,^*^ 



K/E:poi^t 



BY MOSES STOCKING, ESQ. 



Mr. Q/rus Woodma n, ilanaging Di- 
rector Burlington and 3Iisso2iri River 
Rail Road in jVebraska : 
Sir : — The district of countrj- iucludod 
within the scope of 1113' instructions in- 
cludes parts of the counties of Lancaster, 
Seward, York, Saline, Fillmore, Clay, 
Hamilton, Adams and Kearney, and is 
a portion of that immense line of tabic 
lands that form the southern coast line 
of the great Platte river, and whicli 
seem to have their eastern ternjinus in 
Saunders county, and in the point of 
land betvreen the Platte bottoms and the 
valley of the Wahoo. 

The features of this table arc peculiar. 
It is very level, containing numerous 
small depressions or basins, usually 
drainable from one to another, and finally 
to the verge of the plateau, by very 
shallow drains, of one foot or so in depth. 
It is destitute of trees, but everywhere 
clothed with rich grasses. It is the 
source of numerous small streams, that 
in connection with its nnmercus basins, 
aft'ord stock water on nearly every sec- 
tion. It is nowhere entirely cut through 
by its numerous water courses, but on 
the contrary offers, it is believed, the 
largest level njtland route for a wagon 
road on this continenc. It also presents 
one of the finest surfaces for the con- 
struction of railroads to be found in the 
known world. 

The .surface having an incline to the 
southeast, nearly all the waters issuing 
from this immense lino are discharged in 



that direction, including all the northern 
tributaries of the Ile]>ublican. the north- 
ern heads of Little Blue, West Blue. 
Beaver and Lincoln Creeks, and North 
Blue : and, fiirther ea.st, Willow, Plumb, 
Middle, Oak, Wahoo and Otoe Creeks. 
Again, many of the above named streams 
reach outward and upward to the very 
verge and summit of the Platte river 
coast, and thus furnish the easiest grades 
and the finest lines of communication 
between the latter and the country to 
the east, soath and west. The waters of 
Hhis region flow with a brisk current and 
are sweet and pure. Mill sites are plen- 
tiful, but as yet only a small number are 
improved. At Milford and Camden, on 
the North Blue, are good mills ; a fine 
mill is also in process of erection at 
Pleasant Hill, on Turkey Creek. Mr. 
David Heed, at Ulysses, and Mr. West, 
on West Blue, also have saw mills ; 
more saw mills and at least one good 
flouring mill on West Blue would pay 
the enterprising builder largely who shall 
undertake it. The want is daily becom- 
ing a necessity. Who is to be the lucky 
man? 

The climate of this region is one of 
great salubrity, and offers strong induce- 
ments to the rheumatic and consumptive 
of the eastern States to settle upon thesi> 
fertile and beautiful prairies, and breathe; 
the pure, invigorating air of Nebraska. 
Timber, consisting of Oak, Walnut. 
Maple, Ash, Elm, Cottonwood and AVil- 
low. was found upon all the streams vis- 



ited, and geuerally in quantities suffi- 
cient to supply pretty compact settle- 
ments, until such tinjo as a full supply 
can be grown by cultivation. Cotton- 
wood, of a size to answer for stove wood, 
lias been and can bo grown in three 
years. Plant close with seedling trees, 
cultivate as for corn, and thin out the 
third year. It is believed that the whole 
region examined belongs to the great 
marl deposits of Nebraska, varying in 
color and composition from the yellow 
marl of the bluff formation along the 
Missouri river, to that of the white and 
chalky marls of tlie middle and western 
part of the State, and that in the coun- 
ties bordering upon the Platte river the 
^^trata of marl are of great depth, gradu- 
ally thinning toward the south and east. 
In Saunders county the marl seems to 
have a range of from six to twenty-one 
feet in depth, under which is a thick bed 
of sand ; and, in one instance, a soft, yel- 
low sand rock was pierced to a depth of 
thirty feet. These marls, whether yel- 
low, white or red, contain everywhere 
nodules of lime, and in considerable 
quantities, and offer to the agriculturist 
as desirable a soil for the growth of 
clover, root crops and the cereals, as the 
world affords. In short, they bear a 
close resemblance to but are not excelled 
by the famous wild oat soil of tlie Sacra- 
mento river, of California. On the drj'er 
portions of this plateau hogs and 
sheep should constitute a large percent- 
age of the farmers' stock. Deep tillage 
should be the farmer's motto, and his 
]_>ractice as well. Deep plowing will en- 
able the surplus water of a rainy season 
to readily sink out of his way, thus es- 
tablishing a reservoir below ibr the use 
of his growing ])lants in seasons of 
drouth. Again, free jjlanting^ both of 
fruit and forest trees, for ornament and 
for profit, should engage his early atten- 
tion. 

Although west of range one west 
there is .scarcely an acre of ground that 
h;i3 been broken more than three years, 



or produced more than two crops, yet 
the settlers have this year grown from 
twenty to thirty bushels of excellent 
wheat to the acre, fifty to seventy-five of 
oats, fifty of barley and twenty-five to 
sixt}' of corn ; and further east, on 
ground four or five years in cultivation, 
seventy to seventy-five bushels are re- 
ported. Potatoes and other roots of the 
very finest quality and large yield have 
been obtained. Thirty miles below 
Kearney and on the Platte bottom, 
})eaches are grown upon trees four years 
from the seed. A section of the Platte 
bluffs known as the Sand Hills, and 
averaging perhaps one mile in breadth, 
say from range two to range eighteen 
west, is believed to be admirably adapted 
to ])each growing. In the valley of 
Rock Creek, and in the counties of 
Saunders and Lancaster, are several ©ut- 
crops of new red sandstone, belonging 
to the Dacota group of Doctor Hayden. 
This rock is very well adapted to build- 
ing purposes, and is within a short dis- 
tance of the line of the railroad from 
Ashland to Lincoln. 

In the same valley, and near the resi- 
dence of M. lliddle, is a small salt basin. 
The northwestern portion oP Lancaster 
and eastern portion of Seward counties 
are quite rolling and abundantly sup- 
plied with small streams. The soil indi- 
cates more clay than is usual in Nebraska 
soils. 

The grazing is somewhat inferior, in 
consequence of the large proportion of 
the fetid wire grass that abounds. 

The other grasses of this section arc 
rich in nutritious qualities, as are the 
grasses usually found throughout the 
State. 

Mr. AVm. Imly, an old settler of Ne- 
braska, formerly of Cass, but now of 
Seward county, and who has been for 
three terms one of her County Commis- 
sioners, says that Seward is a better 
county than Cass for wheat and oats, 
but perliap5i not quite as good for corsi ; 
thinks the soil more compact and clayey ; 



has examined tlic count)}- west of 8ew- 
ard and .southwest to the Republican. — 
Thinks the country on the Bhies the best 
he has f-een, and admirably adapted to 
the ]n-oduction of grain. Mr. Wm. _ E. 
Davis and Mr. Ellsworth, of 8ewai\l, 
corroborate tlie statement of Mr. ludy. 

Cros.sing the North Blue at Seward, 
our route Iny down the west bank some 
four or five miles. After crossing 
(,^1-ookod Creek, a small tributary, with 
limber, turned southwest across the 
))i'airie to Walnut Creek, a branch of 
\Vest Blue, and also showing timber ; 
thence west on wagon road to Beaver 
crossing. The whole aspect of the coun- 
try since crossing North Blue, has 
changed for the better. More timber, 
smoother surface, soil more frial)le and 
much less of the fetid Avire grass. 

Mr. Boland Heed lives at the jinu,-- 
tiou of Et^aver and Blue: owns ]u,(;i((0 
acres, has farmed four years, had good 
crops, no trouble from drouth, thinks 
the soil unsurpassed. 

Mr. l''ou?t has farmed five years in the 
fork of Blue and Beaver ; has good 
crops — this year ha.s seventy bushels of 
corn to the acre — has grown wheat, oats 
and rye. AU do well. He hasno trouble 
from drouth and thinks the soil exceed- 
ingly fertil--'. The Beaver and Vv'est Blue 
make a fine sliow of timber from this 
point. Contiiated up the road to sec- 
tion 2:1, town 9 north, of i-ange 1 west ; 
crossed the table land in a southwest di- 
rectioji to the West Blue, section 7, 
town y ranu'O 1 west. Table land level, 
rii'h. wanii, light, friable soil, and cov- 
ered with rich grasses — the rcdstem pre- 
dominating, mixed with bluestem, 
bunch, butlalo, and a little of the worth- 
less wire -grass. 

'fhe bottoms have a beautiful slope to 
the river, and arc high and dry and very 
fertile. Timber suflicient for a comj^act 
settlement. The high land drops down 
at an easy slope. Every .settler talked 
with reports good crops and no trouble 
from drouth ; and the appearance of the 



deep, rich soil, fully corroborates their 
statements (jrossed the table land 
again, to Captain Wymans', on Beaver, 
section 0, town 10, range 2 west ; sur- 
face very level ; passed a wet basin of 
some forty acres in area. It is believed 
that these basins could easily be con- 
verted into permanent Avatering jilaces 
for stock — a desideratum where the table 
is wide or running water too distant — 
and thus not only add a permanent value, 
Init increase the beauty of this ali'eady 
beautiful plain. At Wyman's saw .'-;ome 
line samples of wheat, oats and corn of 
his growing. Followed up the Beaver to 
David Baker's — a new settler, who has 
lived in Iowa, 31issoun and West Vir- 
ginia — section 10. town 10, range 3. 

The valley of Beaver offers fine site?' 
f(u* farms, except that it is deficient in 
timber; much of its original stock having 
b'een cut off by the overland travel; -still 
there is sufficient for several additional 
settlers. Mr. Baker has a splendid loca- 
tion, is evidently a man of energy and 
some capital, and will soon make a 
notable mark here ; claims are now taken 
on this stream some sixteen miles above 
Baker's. Several parties are stopping 
tlicir families here, while jireparing 
their houses. From this point, contin- 
ued up. the stream tlire(> miles; passed a 
village of prairie dogs ; turned south to 
West Blue: liit the stream at the mouth 
of School Creek, section SH, town '.i, of 
range 4 Avost. Beautiful i)lace, fine 
land and plenty of timber. 

Table land was very level. Badger 
holes show a creara\- colored marl under- 
lying the surface and containing nodules 
of a chalky lime inconsiderable (fuanti- 
tities. In the middle of the table land 
found a second village of the ])rairie 
docs; crossed to the south side of the 
Blue, and went up stream to Fairbanks" 
section 28, town G, range 4 west, who set- 
tled here July ISCG ; did some breaking, 
too late ; did not rot well. Soil rots 
quickly if broken at the right season of 
the year. He believes in deep plowiui;-, 



t'hbks the ground resists the drouth rc- 
Tnarkably^oll. He has had good ci-ODS 
andthmksthe upland full as good as 
the bottom for a crop. His neighbor ou 
the opposite side of the river, and where 
the table terminates abruptly m higH 
bluffs, has good crops and no damage 
from drouth. 

Fairbanks showed some fine xvhcat 
corn, oats and potatoes; has cottonwood 
trees two years old that are til teen feet 
high and three inches in diameter. U p 
thestream and just above the Hender- 
son farm, and nearly opposite a north 
branch of the Blue, which shows consid- 
orable timber, found corners ot sections 
iq o,), 29 and 30 of town 9 ot range 4 
west. The Blue .shows plenty ot tim- 

'°At Waddles-section 2G, town 9 of 
raP-e 5 we.st-obtained samples of wheat 
ancf barley; yield of wheat twenty-six, 
and of barley fifty bushels to the acre 
Thinks barley one of the surest and best 
crops to raise, just the soil for it. Has 
qood corn, potatoes and other roots 
believes in deep plowing, says the turt 
rots quickly if broken at the proper sea- 
son; thinks the upland will produce crops 
equal to the bottoms; says that stock 
will thrive all winter on the range; tLat 
a pair of horses belonging to a neighbor 
ran out last winter without gram and 
l,ut very little hay, and in the spring 
were in good condition for work, ihis 
settlement, now only three years old and 
embracing about a dozen ff ^i^^^^' ^^l^ 
this year grown and threshed 12,000 
bushels of small grain of excellent qual- 

"Up stream several miles to Chaffee s, 
ill the forks of the Blue, slope of high- 
land cut up with ravines so as to present 
-irollino- appearance; bottom fine but 
narrowing to half a mile or less; timber 
• still plenty, soil getting lighter, more 
friable, (luick and warm. Chaffee has 
good crops: oats twenty-five bushels per 
acre, and wheat twenty-six. Turnipsand 
potatoes were very fine. His California 



pink-eveseouldnot be excelled, bectiou 
U town 9 range 6 west, 1^ mdes 
up north forkfoundtheSalmons brothers 
-new settlers with their first crop-a 
fine location, section 28, town 9, rang^ 
6 The stream here is small, sluggish 
and muddv; timber thinning up stream.- 
From Salmon's toheadof timberis about 
nine miles; one farm in this distance.- 
Frequent gullies from the upland cut up 
the slope and bottom into small sections, 
otherwise they are very fine. Timber, 
elm and ash. The grasses are rich anu 
abundant. These bottoms and slopes 
should be grazed, and the upland farmed 
Left stream and turned north-northwes t 
for the cut-off road, which was reached 
a little past sunset, and the Platte river 
at 8 p. m. Table land very level aiu 
well covered with redstem, bluestem and 
buffalo grasses. 

At Geo. Marston's, north-east corner 
of \dams county., section 28, town 10. 
range 9, saw good wheat and oats grown 
on the Platte bottom; he tmnks both 
bottom and upland as good as the coun- 
try farther to the east. Bode south from 
iunction in north-east corner of Adams 
•county,eight or ten miles; table lam. 
level and dry; grass redstem and buffalo^ 
soil hght loam. Badger holes show 
a grayish marl, with nodules of the chalky 
lime Found the southwest corner o 
town 9, range 9; turned west and kep 
near line between townships eight aiid 
nine for some seven or ^igbt mile-s. 
Crossed a ravine, the head of Elm creek, 
a fork ofWestBlue, and containing water 
laKl four cottonwood trees; examined a 
cliff of gray marll5 feet high and con- 
taining the usual fossils chalk: hmu 
Whole road to-day over beautiful prair.c 
crassv and rich; came in at Martm s an 
Englishman, sectionl2, town 9, range 



lowest Mr. Martin was wounded by 
the Sioux Indians inl8G4 and his two 
sons were pinned together by an arr<.Y, . 
while mounted upon their father shorso- 
They are now well, and correctly appre- 
ciate the iVoWe iJeJ .Van. Mr. Martm., 



.states that he sowed four bushels of bar- 
ley on 2.} acres of ground, and harvested 
and threshed two hundred bushels from 
the same: has fine samples of wheat, oats 
and barley, i)otatoes, cabbage, beets,' car- 
rots, i)arsnips, onions, etc.; has raised 
peaches this year on trees four years 
from the seed. His trees do not winter 
kill; thinks ihe upland fully as good as 
the bottom. Martin says that the alkali 
ground on his fVirm comes all right in 
three years. 

^ Three fourths of a mile southwest of 
Martin's examined a cliff nine feet high, 
first six feet gray marl full of foinlh, 
next a thin sheet of rock and horizon- 
tally under this was three feet of dark 
brown soil, without fossils and belonoing 
tea former age. These dark lines of old 
soil are quite common along the Platte 
Valley. At Cottonwood Springs are 
three distinct lines, and in the bank of 
the river below Geo. Martin's is quite an 
extensive deposit of bones of a large 
Mammalia. Between Martin's and 
Kearney the surface near the Sand Hills 
IS undulating and in places some sandy • 
shows signs of denudation ; grass thin,' 
water scarce ; farther so>iTth is found the 
smooth surface of the gray marls. 

At Kearney City examined some very 
fair vegetables and seed corn grown by 
Mr. Mitchell, among the sand hills of 
the Platte bluffs, on new breaking; also 
vegetables and grain grown in thePlatte 
bottom by Messrs. Talbot and M. H. 
Sydenham, all of which were fair as 
usually fuund in the eastern counties of 
the State grown , upon new ground.— 
These gentlemen express great confidence 
in the productiveness of Kearney county. 
Nov. ;i From Kearney, in Kearney 
founty, travelled south, crossed the sand 
hills, and outupon the plain, to corner 
of seetions 22, 2.3, 26, 27, of town 7, range 
L) west, near center of Kearney county. 
Those sand hills are one mile in breadth 
and will some day be crowded with peacli 
orchards; next about one mile of undulat- 
ing marl of :i creamy color, compact, looks 



dry and hard; covered with shoit buffhlo 
gntss. In a cliff, twelve feet high and six 
toGt nom the the top, was the dark line 
of an old soil and usual ix'd grit. 

On the table land again. ^ To the ea,st. 
south and west, the eye cannot reach U 
the limit of the plain. Buffalo grass com- 
prises four-fifths of the herbage, and this 
has been grazed close ; and tl e "chip"- 
sign shows which species of the '-i^o <' ' has 
been here. Turning east, passed one lirge 
and several smaller pond,s, from one o 
which issues a branch of Little Blue. Fol- 
lowed down this one hour and came to a 
pool of clear good water. Near by v^as a 
cliff seventeen feet high, fifteen Vect of 
light colored marl, with the chalky 
nodules oflime resting horizontally on 
two feet of dark brown soil, and conhiin- 
ing coarse grit resembling grains of new 
red sand-stone. Followed this brancli till 
dark— but little water— surface rou-h 
near the stream, but smooth a half mile 
distant. Timber begins to apj.ear 
and also considerable water; a fork comes 
in from tlie south west— camped liere. 
In the morning ascended a knob some 
fifty feet liigh, and took a survey of the 
country ; rough and full of gullies near 
the stream, and quite sandy; gra.s.s 
coarse and but few trees ; smooth in the 
distance. Bode northeast half a mile to 
the marl i)Iain ; turned east and rode 
over a beautiful level tract, well covered 
with grass, to a second creek, studded 
with Cottonwood trees, an old camping 
place ; plenty of water in long lagoons" 
steep cliff, banks of white marl, offering 
good .shelter for stock ; on again over 
the level and well grassed plain ; cro.ssed 
two old wagon trails pointing north and 
south. At 11 o'clock, a. m. came to a 
third creek, ut six large elm trees— water 
in holes— timber below far as seen, banks 
low, grassabundant, and mainly rcdstern; 
one mile farther east came to the St. Jo- 
seph road ; one-fouth of a mile further 
came to a fourth creek witli cottouwood 
timber ; continued east over beautiful 
and well grassed prairie until an old 



Indian trail was reached ; here found a 
quarter corner. Turned north half a 
mile, and fouTid corner of sections 20, 
21, 17, 16, of town 7 north, range 10 
west ; the center of Adams county ; 
north three miles to township line ; 
found all the section corners. Turned 
cast again two miles crossing a fifth 
branch of Little Blue, to the corners of 
sections 2 and 3 of town 7 north, and 
sections 34 and 35 of town 8 north, range 
10 west ; north again one mile to a fork 
of West Blue ; down stream two miles 
and camped on good grass near water ; 
here the hollow turns south. All of this 
stretch of prairie is most beautiful, rich, 
and covered with grass, mainly bluestem. 
Nov. 5. Traveled north a short dis- 
tance, swung around east and south to 
the high land on south side of creek ; 
east and north again to the first timber — 
eleven cottonwood trees — at the fork and 
near the quarter post of sections 34 and 
35, town 8, of rajige 9 west ; just below 
the cotton are thirteen elm trees. Here 
found fresh chopping and the track of a 
wagon drawn by sjiod mules. North 
again, some two or three miles, twining 
more east, found corners of sections 2, 
11, 13, 14, of town 8 north, of range 9 
west, in eastern part of Adams county. 
Twining still more to east and southeast, 
came upon the trail of railroad surveyors 
at stake 5618, in northwest corner of 
Clay county ; followed line east to stake 
;>o30 ; turned ; outh to river for water, 
and nooned near some elm trees. All 
the country passed this morning is very 
beautiful and well covered with bluestem 
grass ; soil of the best qualitiy ; badger 
holes show the cream colored marls. — 
Passed to the south side, and out upon 
the table land ; turned east and kept 
near enough to the river to get views of 
the timber. In range eight the timber 
is thin, about enough for one family to 
the quarter. Kange seven has more 
timber, enough for a compact settlement. 
In the west part of range 0, the timber 
•s thin again, but is quite abundant at 



the east side and around ChaflFee's — sec- 
tion 34, town 9, range 6 west, in south 
part of Hamilton county. All of this 
prairie is beautiful as the "Garden of 
Eden," and the rich, warm soil, deep 
enough to produce all the "fruits of the 
earth" in abundance forever. 

Nov. 6. From Chaffee's rode south- 
east, accross the table land. Crossed the 
railroad survey at stake 2734. About 
half a mile further came to corner of sec- 
tions 17, 18, 19, 20, town 8, north of rango 
5 west, in the north east township of Clay 
county — the first corner stake .yet found 
standing in place. Struck School creek, 
at corner of sections 34, and 35, tov/n 8, 
range 5, and sections 2 and 3 town 4, 
range 5, and a little below the head of 
timber; country passed over same as ycv-- 
terday. On south cast quarter of 3, and 
north west quarter of 2, town 7, range 5, 
and.on north half of 35, town 8. range T), 
there is timber sufiicienfc for settlers; still 
higher up are a few trees. Crossed the 
creek, and rode east one mile to summit 
of table laud — level and grassy, as far as 
the eye could see. lu town 8, range 4 
Avest, the north west township of Fillmore 
county, crossed the railroad line again t;'^ 
stake marked 2338, P. On the south 
side of School creek the surface and breaks 
indicate more clay. At several points a 
red compact clayey marl, containing tho 
lime fossils of the white marls with various 
colored and water worn pebbles of granitio 
origin, were observed. Grass abundaj;t 
and mostly redstem. This creek is very 
well timbered to its mouth, and but a few 
claims taken. Camped on the prairie, 
night cold and frosty. 

Nov. 7. Down Blue to the Whitakcr 
brothers, — section 8, town 8, range 3 we^t; 
damp chilly east wind. Mr. Whitaker 
has been three years in Fillmore county; 
came from Ohio, has raised twenty-fivo 
bushels of wheat, sixty of corn and two 
hundred and thirty of potatoes to the 
acre; thinks the soil very productive ; han 
a mill site that he wishes improved. 

Nov. 8. Southeast from Whitaker'^ 



found corners of sections 10, 11, 14, 15, 
town 8, range 3. On the summit of the 
tiiblo found the usual basins. Crossed 
theviiih-oad survey at stake marked 1662; 
reached Turkey creek at noon, about three 
mil(;s l>eiow the head of timber, at a high 
bhiff and near south branch having tim- 
])ci-. This plateau differs somewhat from 
anyofl lie proceeding; it evidently con- 
tains more clay and a closer, firmer soil; 
the result no doubt, of the red, granitic 
marly clay subsoil above described. The 
basins, also, differ in this that they con. 
tain water and slough grass; also there is' 
a large ))roportion of the bluestem grass. 
Again the earth raised by the Badger was 
darker, more clayey, and the lime peb- 
bles reddish in color ; the surface more 
rough, indicating standing water after a 
rain. Txirkey creek at this point, near 
the centre of Fillmore countj' — section 
27. town 7, range 2 west, is a mere rivulet, 
but shows evidence of being a river at 
times. Drift wood was noticed lodged 
in the branches of treesfifteen feet above 
the bed of the stream. The bench or 
terrace bottom is wide, level, rich, well 
covered with grass and elevated fifteen 
or twenty fieet above the bed of the creek. 
The upland to the south has a very easy 
rise and is of the best quality. Kept on 
the south side, to the entrance of a con- 
siderable fork, having a good show of 
timber coming in from, the southwest- 
section .3, town G, range 1 west. Passed 
one claim in this distance, on which was 
a house and about five acres of sod corn. 
Timber mainly wdaite-ash, and small.— 
Crossed to the north side, and rode one 
.".nd a half miles over a beautiful bottom: 
came to ten acres of breaking and an 
empty house. Camped here. 

Nov. 9. Morning dark and foggy; 
could scarcely see eighty rods. Rode 
down stream to section 24, town 7 of 
range 1 west— east line of Fillmore 
county. Here found out crop of the red 
clay in a cliff, and gray marl above. 
Above the cliff the clay was so near the 
5furfa.ce as to be reached by the plow ; 



with the clay at its base was mixed a 
notable quantity ot coarse red sand, re- 
sembling the debris of the new red sand- 
stone. 

On section 20, town 7, range 1, found 
Mrs. Prelan,, from Ohio, who has been 
here three years ; raised two crops — both 
good for new ground. Wheat this year, 
twenty-five bushels to the acre, and 
some smutty ; corn sound ; planted one- 
and-a-half bushels of potatoes and har- 
vesting fifty bushels. 

At noon reached Mr. John Manley".?, 
section 4, town 7, of range 1 e-»st in 
north-west part of Saline county; has 
been here since June 1866, Mr. Manley 
is from New York, has raised two crops, 
last year had eighteen bushels of wheat 
and twenty-five of corn to the acre. Says 
the upland suffers more here than the 
bottoms; thinks it due to the underlying 
clay, which he says is found within one 
foot of the surface. 

Timber on Turkey Creek has become 
large and more abundant in quantity and 
variety. Walnut and burr oak are now 
seen. 

Mr. Manley reports one hundred 
bushels of potatoes to the fourth of an 
acre as his yield this year. Six miles 
further down found a Mr. Gilbert, from 
Ohio — section 4, town 7, range 2 east^ — 
has been on Turkey Creek four years : 
plows deep and has good crops, twenty- 
five to thirty bushels of wheat, fifty to 
sixty of corn to the acre ; last j'ear crops 
were injured by the drouth and the hot 
winds that prevailed five days ; this year 
has suffered from floods; thinks the 
country far better than Ohio. 

Reports out-crop of limestone on 
Spring Creek and near Pleasant Pli!!. 
says that it is found on both banks of the 
stream, a distance of one and a half 
miles ; is full of shells and makes excel- 
lent lime ; says that Swan Creek, a south 
branch of Turkey, is quite heavily tim- 
bered, and that Saline is the best tim- 
bered county in the State. 
Nov. 10. Snow this morning. Weat, 



down stream three miles and crossed. 
The valley of Turkey is a good farming 
country, well supplied with timber. Left 
the creek and took the road for Camden, 
which is located near the north-east cor- 
ner of Saline county ; table land high and 
level, with basins, soil grayish brown, 
rieh and deep ; elevation of table above 
river about one hundred feet. Three 
miles from Camden forded the Blue; 
maple timber on the banks; good bot- 
toms; fine stream and valley. At Cam- 
den forded the North Blue, and came at 
once upon the rolling prairie that 
istrecthes away to the Missouri River. 

From all that I have now seen, and all 
that has been gleaned from settlers, I 
am decidedly of the opinion that the 
ooiintry west of the Big Blue, and north 
of township 6, will, in the production of 
fruits, roots, wool and cereals, excel the 
country to the east of that river, and 
fully equal it in the production of corn 
and live stock, beef, pork and mutton ; 
that Kearney and Adams counties are 
by no means, the barren wastes that has 
been represented, but on the contrary, 
drew the elements of fertility from the 
same inexhaustable fountain of marl as 
Hamilton and Clay, Fillmore and York, 
having less timber and less water ; they 
are not as inviting to the settler, but for 
tlie production of fruit, (especially 
peaches) and wool, I should place them 
at the head of the list. The great want 
of these counties, as indeed of the whole 
region, is a Railroad, on which the pio- 
neer setler can transport his familj', his 
ijoods, and the lumber out of which his 
house must be constructed. Everv train 



will bring in civilization and comfort, 
and feeling that he is not out of human- 
ity's reach he will be content ; and con- 
tentment favors industry, and industry 
on these rich prairies, will soon supply 
an abundance of the good things of life. 
Ten years after the completion of your 
line of road, will see these lovely plains 
dotted over with farm houses, orchards 
and groves of timber, the school house 
and the church, the flock and the herd, 
and long lines of hedge enclosing broad 
acres of waving grain. Here the farmer 
Villi put down his plow without fear of 
turning up the bottom. 

These views are the result of fifty years 
spent in agricultuarl pursuits, sixteen of 
which have been spent on this frontier, 
either in actual cultivation of the soil or 
the handling of stock. I have worked 
cattle hard, the entire year through, and 
on no other feed than the grass of the 
lirairie : have seen fine crops of grain and 
vegetables grown o;i new ground that vcri/ 
tmse people condemned as worthless. — 
But sixteen }-ears back the first Indian 
Treaty, that extinguished their title to 
the lands of Nebraska, was concluded : 
and what is Nebraska to-day ? A State 
and a "loyal State" of this Union— a 
State unsurpassed in the salubrity of its 
climate, the beauties of its jKairies, the 
depth of its fertile soil, the abundance 
and purity of its waters, t^Q richness oi 
its grasses, or in tlie proposed facilities 
of intercommunication for its people. 
Respectfully, 

iMOSES STOCKING. 

Plattsmouth, Nov. 23., 1SG9. 



K/EI^OIRT 



BY L. R. WARNER, ESQ. 



M.'Faddf.x p. 0.. York Co., Xeb. 
Mr. Cyrm Woodmnn. BTaiinrp'ng Di- 

ypctnr BurHngtm, ami Missouri River 

Junl Road in N'chroska : 
_ Dkar Sir. :— I left my residence (sec- 
tion 10, town S, ran.ire ?, west,) Wediies- 
'lay inornin/,1-, November 17th. JSiiO, to 
investigate tlic cliaracter of the land in 
Adams and Kearney counties ; its iitness 
ibr fiirming purposes, etc., as you re- 
quested in your letter of the ;JOth ultimo. 
From my p]:ice I passed up the West 
Blue river, through a part of York, 
Hamilton and Clay counties. Entering 
Adams county on section oC. town 8, 
range 9, then west northwest to or near 
section 16, town 8, range II, then south- 
we.st to the corner of towns .3 and 6, 
ranges 14 and 15, then east northeast to 
section I , town r,, range 9, then south- 
west to Thirty-two mile creek, down 
which T passed to tlie mouth of More- 
house creek, where I found sixty lodges 
of Omaha Indians encamped. Here let 
mo say, to the credit of the Omaha's, I 
was received like a brother and treated 
with the greatest kindnes.«. Being short 
of provisions, they supplied all my 
wants free of chartre, giving me corn 
bread, venison, sugar, coffee and flour.— 
They were courteous and gentlemanly in 
their bearing, and very solicitous for my 
welfare, offei-ing to furnish an escort to 
accompany me as far as I wished. 

From Morehouse I took a westerly 
course, to town .O, range 10, west; then 
.wuth to the llepublican river, then 



northeast, crossing Elk creek. Little 
Blue, Big Sandy, to my place. Above I 
have given you my course. From this I 
frefjuently diverge to the right or left, 
from one to the three miles, occasionally 
digging through the .<-oil, which, I invtir 
riably found to be a rich, black vegetable 
mould, from eighteen inches to three 
and a half feet deep, slightly impregna- 
ted with lime, and .sand enongh to keep 
It friable, but entirely free from stones 
or gravel. Like the land in the eastern 
part of the State, it seems to have the 
singular property of resisting mnisual 
wet, or continued drouth. The subsoil 
is a yellowish clay, not impervious to 
water. The soil between the surface 
mould and the clay base seems to be. 
strongly oalcarous, which must be of 
great value in the production of cereal 
crops. The points of some of the short 
divides, between the small streams, I 
found to be filled with gravel. Towns 
5, 6, 7 and 8, ranges 9, 10, 11 and 12 
are rolling, well watered and wooded.— 
I believe these towns to be the very best 
adapted to fruit growing, especially 
grapes and peaches, of any locality in 
the State. The water, in both Adams 
and Kearney; I found to be clear, beauti- 
ful and delicious. The reports about its 
being so strotigly inipregnated with al- 
kali, as to be injurious to the health of 
men hud animals, I positively declare to 
be flilse, ha,sc fabrications. The timber 
is Cottonwood, white ash, red and white 



elm, hackberry, oak and willow. The 
annual fiic, which have swept over these 
prairies for itgc "'""ast, have kept the tim- 
ber from spreading Mi:d attaining its full 
growth. If these fir ;s could be kept out 
of Adams county for five years it would 
doubtless become one entire forest. — 
Along the creeks, plums, gi*apes, goose- 
berries, i-aspberries and a superior quality 
of hops grow in abundance. 

In Webster county I fell in with jMr. 
Charles Coon and Jacob Haines, who 
with six associates have been emi)loyed 
by the State as frontier guards, at 
Kiowa, and for the past season have 
been farming on section 15, town 3 
range 4 west. Their corn crop this year 
surpassed anything I ever saw in Iowa 
or Illinois, where I have been engaged in 
forming, for the past twelve years. — 
These men inform me that they have an 
average yield of seventy-six bushels of 
corn per acre, and this in soil far inferior 
to the poorest I saw in Adams and Kear- 
nej' counties. Messrs. Coon and Haines 
have taken claims in town 5, range 7 
west. I see by town plats, which they 
showed me, that nearly all the land is 
taken along the Little Blue, as far west 
a,s the east line of Adams county. — 
There is no doubt but nearly all the 
Government claims in Fillmore, Clay, 
Adams and Kearney counties will be 
taken long before the railroad is com- 
pleted. On my way out I saw Mr. N. 
Bray and Mr. James Waddle who reside 
in town 9, range 4 west, also Mr. Robert 
L. Mont and Mr. J. Cl'.afFee, who reside 
on section 34, town 9, range G west — 
(post office Farmer's Valley, Hamilton 
county.) All these men have been in 
Adams and Kearney county, and express 
a firm belief that these counties are as 
valuable for farnn'ng purposes, and will 
sell at as good prices, when the railroad 
is completed, as lands in any county west 
of range 5 east. It is the fixed belief 
and expressed wish in the minds of every 
man with whom I have conversed on the 
subject, (and they are not a few,) that 



the Burlington and i\Iissouri River Rail 
Road Company in Nebraska could not 
possibly do better for themselves than 
to build their road from Lincoln to Cam- 
den, then south southwest along the di- 
vide nortli of north fork of Turkey 
Creek, though near the centers of Fill- 
more, Clay, Adams and Kearney coun- 
ties, which I respectfully submit for your 
consideration. In regard to Kearney 
county in particular, I can only say it i s 
one broad expense of beauty, rolling 
away in richest verdure, as far as tlie eye 
can reach, from any standpoint. As I 
ascended e,ach successive swell, in that 
rich field of floral beauty, bounded only' 
by etherial blue, I could not refrain from 
adoring the Great Creator, in obedience 
to whose command, all this wealth, this 
beauty, this sublime scenery was formed 
Oh! how the soul expands, what rever- 
ential awe overspreads the mind as the eye 
surveys this vast expanse of beauty and 
grandure. The eye can sec it, the soul 
can feel it, but the pen connot descrile it to 
another. God has placed here untold 
W(^alth, and rich fortunes, and so near the 
surface that the farmer can easily turn 
them out with the plow share. In Wcb- 
st-er county, there is an extensive bed of 
good coal, lime and sand stone, chalk and 
slate, and I think rich soap-stone. These 
will be quarried and shipped as soon as a 
roadisready to transport them. 

I saw and talked with Mr. James Whit- 
aker who resides on the north east qusrter 
of section 4, town S, range 3 west lie 
has seen as much of Adams and Kearney 
counties, as any man on the frontier. He 
thinks these counties as good, in every 
respect, as York, Seward, Hamilton or 
Filmore. His remarks are : Adams and 
Kearney have as good soil; the land lays as 
well; they have better water; as good tim- 
ber and lar better surroundings, than any 
count}' west ofrange 5 east. And in my 
opinion, he said, there will bo an ex- 
tensive local business, and a ready sale of 
lands in these counties, as any county east 
of them, if the railroad should l>e am- 



fitructed through them. Mr. Whitaker 
also said he had seen coal, Umc stone, 
t-'atc, soa})-stonc and good plaster in Web- 
H'cr county. He thinks a branch road to 
:hc Republican river, through towns in 
range 10 or 11 Avould pa}' enormous profits. 
4 1 believe as he does in regards to a branch 
!-oad. In closing, I would say, that if 
there is any diiference in the quality of the 
;'»ilin Adams an Kearney counties, or de- 
■ct in the lay of the land, from any other 
(• -'unty in the State I have failed to .see it. 
. .-ce no ]>ossiblc reason why there .should 
i\ )t be as extensive local business, as ready 
f^ale, at as good jiricos for railroad lands, 
i'l these counties, as any counties in the 
.State. The r^oW i.s as good, the water, tim- 
bor, lay of the land and surroundings arc 
.••■jost assuredly as gudd as any other two 



counties in the State. The constant dread 
of Indians, in the minds of new comers, is 
the only thing that has prevented these 
counties from being settled. We know 
how to deal with the Sioux and other hos- 
tile tribes, but the nuirderous l^awnecs 
are what we dread. Let these villians be 
kept upon their reservation, or let the 
government give us full permit to kill them 
at sight and I will warrant Adams and 
Kearney to settle. 

Yours Respectfullv. 

LYMAN K. WARNER. 



Tills is to certify, that I aecominmied 
Mr. Warner through Adams, Kearney, 
and Webster counties, and I believe his 
report to be correct, truthful and not 
overrated. 0. N. WEBSTER. 



SAIjXWEESS €OUSTYv 






"(rcographically Saunders is included in 
i'lC second tier of counties west of the 
>iissouri River, and is bounded on the 
T. M'lli and east by the IMattc river, south 
i.y Cass and Lanca.?tcr counties, and west 
! / Butler county. 

its area embraces about seven hun- 
<l'cd and sixty square miles or four hun- 
:';cd iiiqety-onc thousand five hundred 
■^AivS. twenty (491,520) acres of decD ricli 
.Ti;,d loamy soil. Topograidileally the 
rv'srthwcstern jiortion of the county is 
^'••autifully level and consisting of Table 
rr.id bottom lands. The southwestern 
:1 ortion includes bottom, undulating and 
ir»lling lands of most beautiful slope. 

Salt Creek enters tlie county near the 



foutliwestern corner, running a few 
miles therein and affording a most excel- 
lent water power at Ashland, the present 
county seat. About two miles below 
Ashland, Salt Creek receives the limpid 
waters of the beautiful Wahoo, a line 
mill stream which traverses the entire 
county from the northwest to the south- 
east, dividing it into two nearly equal 
parts; its numerous branches spreading 
out like a /a^i furnish an abundance of 
stock water for a very large area of the 
county. The current of the stream is 
deep and strong and the volume of wa- 
ter sufficientat all times for mill purpo- 
ses and its high banks and crooked course 
offer immerous sites for the erection of 
mills and other machinery. Its valley 
is one of the finest in the State. The 
bottom land alone averaging one mile in 
width for about thirty miles. Sand 



c-reek, its longest tributary, is a beautiful 
^trealn of clear pure water, with a white 
.^and bottom and a splendid valley, cloth- 
ed with rich grasses, and also affording a 
good watgr power near the centre of the 
county. Oak creek, a large tributary of 
Salt creek, runs through two townships 
in the southwest corner of the county, 
iloek creek, a small mill stream, also has 
its source in, and abundantly waters two 
townships in the south part of the county. 
Silver Creek, a long thread like rib- 
band of clear water and an eastern tribu- 
tary of the ¥/ahoo, is a stream of con- 
siderable importance to the county, rising 
near Powhocco, and on tbe northern 
verge of the taltlo land and running 
nearly due south some twenty miles, it 
not only waters much of that beautiful 
and highly fertile plain, but also offers 
an excellent route for the easy construc- 
tion of a railroad between Ashland and 
Fremont. 

Following the line of the Platte are 
ibund numerous springs and rivulets that 
run to and sink in the loose bottoms of 
that shallow stream. Rising near Pow- 
liocco and running southeasterly some 
fifteen miles and nearly parallel with the 
Platte is found Otoe Creek, which dis- 
fharges its waters near the southeast 
rorner of town fifteen of range nine. In 
the same township rises Clear Creek, a 
small slream, having a southeast course 
some eight or ten miles to the Platte 
bottom, where it sinks and again rises at 
the southern border of an extensive bog 
of cane or reed grass of over one thous- 
and acres in area, and which is believed 
to contain excellent peaf. From this 
bog the waters flow south near the west 
side of the Platte bottom in a clear and 
limpid stream until they are discharged 
into Salt Creek, just below the mouth of 
the justly celebrated Wahoo— whose 
beautiful and unsurpassed agricultural 



valley offers one of the mo. t feasib^r 
routes for the construction of a railroad 
line to connect Ashland with Fremont, 
North Bend, Schuyler, Columbus or 
Grand Island, to be found in the State. 
As before stated the soil of the count\ 
is a deep, rich loam, of easy culture an'! 
great fertility and contains a largi- 
amoimt of chalky nodules, sufficient to 
render it highly adapted to the produc- 
tion of cereals. Wheat, oats, barley 
corn and vegetables are produced m 
great perfection. I am not aware tluu 
any of the cultivated grasses have as yei 
been tried, except that Mr. Stocking, 
one of the early settlers of the Wahon 
valley, sowed last fall with rye a quantity 
of timothy and blue grass seed which ] 
am informed came up well and will m > 
doubt prove a success. The native^ 
grasses are the blue stem, red stem, 
bunch, grammar and buffalo, all of whicb. 
are highly nutritious and valuable.-- 
Mixed with these is found in bunchoi 
the footed wire grass, a worthless variety'. 
In the southern part of the county i^ 
found extensive quarries of new vi'u 
sand stone of excellent quality for walls 
culverts, &c. ; also, in four locaHties ii 
the Waiioo valley. Again, on the soutl 
side of Salt Creek, near Ashland, i- 
found both sand and limestone. 

Of timber, the principal supply is Ur 
bo found along the Platte and the head 
branches of the Wahoo in the west par 
of the county. Although deficient ol 
timber, and in the eastern part of rock 
yet in geographical position, beauty ol 
topography, fertility of soil, abundanc v 
of grass, supply of water and watei 
power and facilities for constructing rai' 
roads and forming connections with otl. 
ers that will in a few years be needed ti 
convey the immense surplus products r/ 
the county to market, Saunders standi 
preeminent among her sisters. 



I£02t9ENT£Al>M AXI> H03IESTEAI>- 



The Wlsat, tlie IBow atnl 4t5t» Why, or 
a Sloux'wpjin <';i4o«'hisin for 



— "Moab hath been at ease from his youth. 
:in(i hath settled on his lees, — and hath not 
been emptied from vet'sel to vessel,— therefore 
bis taste remained in him and his .scent is not 
changed." 

"Iloiucstcacler" is a word unknown to 
lexicographers. You will discover it 
neither in Woi'cester nor in Webster un- 
ahridgeii. When John Jnill hears of" it 
he wiil hully it as an Americanism. But 
heyond the Mississippi it is a familiar 
household word, it is a title which every 
tenant in our country should aspire to, 
and which he may obtain if he will, tlius 
liecouiing the peer of his Itmdlord. The 
lirst time I ever heard the word — 
"Homesteader" — was last ^November, 
when crossing the ferry over the Mis- 
souri to Plattsmouth, in Nebraska. — 
V/ind, current, and sandbars were too 
much for our caaft-, so that we were 
afloat seven hours before we could land. 
I am glad to add that we were among the 
last unfortunates who thus watched and 
waited, for the Burlington & Missouri 
Kiver Bail Road Company in Nebraska 
iiave already stationed there a transfer 
steamer with powerful engines which 
makes its trips in fewer minutes than 
the hours which those of the old often 
consumed. Among the wagons on my 
tedious journey, 1 notice one carrying 
under its white cover an emigraTit with 
wife, j'oung children, and household 
stuif. ^V'hen I inquired why they were 
ventui-Ing into a country unknown and 
un.settled just as winter was settling in, 
the woman answered: "Why, sir, we 
have bought out a 'homesteader,' and 
.shall move right into his cabin." 

"Homesteaders" would multi])ly could 
we keep it before the people — the whole 
]ieople, how to become one — how easy it 
is — and how much more truth tlian poe- 
try lurks in the song that Uncle Sam is 
rich enough to give us all a farm. Ac- 
cordingly in hope of aiding the homeless 
who are in quest of homes, T write down 
the answers I have frequent occasion to 
make to the questions of homestead hun- 
ters, translatmg legal gibberish into our 
vulgar vernacular. 

[. What is a homestead? 

It is a farm given to any man, or 
woman, who will live on it, or cultivate 
it. for five years. I say "given," for 
the charges are only about ten cents an 
Jit-re — that Ls the cost of survcvim: and 



recording, amounting in all, for one-- 
fourth of a square mile, to eighteen dol 
lars at most, and four dollars of thi.s s-uni 
is not payable for five years. 

IT. liow large a I'arm is a home- 
stead ? 

It is a farm of one hundred and sixtj' 
acres, except on tracts, onedialf of which 
has deen granted in aid of railroads or 
other ])ublic improvements. On such 
tracts a homestead is of no more than 
half the usual size, 

III. \V'^ho may become a home- 
steader? 
An}' man, or any wouian — that is, a na- 
tive of a legal age. and any foreigner 
who has declared his intentions to become 
a citizen, which any immigrant may do 
on the very same day he lands in 
America. Anj' man in the military or 
naval sevice may also become a home- 
steader by an affidavit before liis officer 
that .such is his desire, provided that 
some member of his family is residing 
— in Western parlance, "squatting" — 
on the land ho wishes to get for hi.-* 
home. 

IV. How does a man become a 
Homesteader? 

He goes to any United States land 
office, and there he has free access to 
map; showing all the vacant lots in the 
neighboring region. He then goes and 
examines lots, picks out the one he likes 
best, returns to the land office, makes an 
application according to the legal forms 
furnished by the officer there, for that 
lot as his homestead, leaves those forms 
for record, pays at most fourteen dollars, 
and is henceforth monarch of all he sur- 
veys on the firm of his choice. 

But a homesteader is not obliged to go 
at all in person to the government land 
office. In most cases he can ascertain 
from local agents or residents what lands 
are vacant, and then make his applica- 
tion for the homestead he wishes to oc- 
cupy, before the clerk of the (.-ourt in tho 
county where it lies. 

V. How soon must a Homesteader 
begin to occupy his land? 

At any time within six months after 
his application is put on record, and he 
may journey away from his land at will, 
if not absent more than half a year at 
once. 

VI. Can a homesteader become full 
owner of his farm sooner than at the end 
of five yeai'.s? 

Yc.<. He can at any time purchase 
his land by paying the Ooveiiiniont 
price — the maximum of which is $2 50 



and the miuimum half that sum per 
acre. 

VII. What if I buy out a Home- 
steader? 

Then he loses the right to take up an- 
other free farm ; but if you occupy his 
land for five years you will become abso- 
lute owner of it, or you can pre-empt at 
anv time. 

VIII. What if a homesteader dies 
befin-e perfecting his claiiu? 

His heirs will inherit all his rirhts on 
condition of doing his duties. 

IX. What if a Homesteader is in 
debt? 

.His homestead is exempt from lia- 
bility for any debt contracted previous 
to his perfecting his claiiu to that 
land, and, in some States, it is not li- 
able to attachments for any subsequent 
(tebts. 

X. What shall a Homesteader do 
first on his land? 

If he comes in the fall he can spend 
the winter in rail splitting. In ea:ly 
spring he can break up the prairie, and 
at once put in a crop of sod corn, which, 
while costing little labor, often yields 
twenty bushels to the acre. If he has a 
neighbor he may find board from the 
start. If he has none, he must camp in 
his wagon till he can build him a cabin, 
or at least a half subterranean "dug- 
out. 

XI. How is a tull title finally ob- 
tained? 

After the Homesteader has resided on 
his land, or tilled it for five years, as 
soon as he proves that fact by two wit- 
nesses to the Ivcgister of the Land 
Office where his application was re- 
corded- that officer will obtain for him 
from Washington a full title to his 
land. 

XII. Where are homesteads to be 
found? 

All public lands are open to entry 
by homesteaders, except .«uch as may 
have been temporarily withdrawn from 
market. But there are no public lands 
in the Northeast of the Mississippi — at 
least none worth taking — and only about 
one million acres in Iowa, and an equal 



number in Missouri. As soon, however, 

as you cross the Plattsmouth ferry into 
Nebraska, you enter the most desirable 
district for homesteads now remaining 
in all the ])ublic domain — a region in the 
latitude of New Yoi'k citj — fertile, 
healthy, and which the Burlington & 
I^IiLsouri River llailroad in Nebraska i.s 
fast penetrating, aftbrding access to mar- 
kets both east and west, as it ])ushes on 
to Fort Kearney, opening a route from 
the Atlantic to the Pacific more than a 
hundred miles shorter than that now 
traveled by way of Omaha. The United 
States land offices in Nebraska are at 
Lincoln, the capital, Beatrice, Omaha 
and Dakota City. 

Many men in older States, who are 
themselves no longer young, and have 
children read\- for education, and are 
disinclined to rough it on a raw prairie 
where n.o wind breaks have yet grown, 
will find something lietter than a frontier 
homestead, along the line of raifroad last 
opened through from I'iver to river, 
namely the Burlington & Missouri River 
Railroad of Iowa. That company began 
running through trains on the fifteenth 
of January. They have received their 
land subsidy, and in February next will 
put into market 4(JO,000 acres. None of 
this land is more than twenty miles from 
their track. None of it is far from 
schools, villages, and their customary 
convenience. All of it has the choice 
between competing markets. IMuch of 
it is overspread with the mold called 
"B'uffdeposit" — having the same chemi- 
cal elements which gave the Nile banks 
their world-famous fertility. The cli- 
mate is the most genial in Iowa, for the 
road runs through the most southern tier 
of counties except one. Payment may 
be made, if desired, in ten annual instal- 
ments, &c., &c. 

Ye who are out of v/ork on the sea- 
board, ye starving clerks in Washington, 
ye tenants in Pennsylvania, ye that gruli 
on the hard farms of New England, arise 
and jiossess the land. In another decade 
free lands will be as hard to discover 
west of the Mississippi as thev now arc 
to the east of it. J. D. B. 



' n^tM^L 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 




016 086 246 4 



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